John Predmore, S.J., is a Northeast Province Jesuit and was the pastor of Jordan's English language parish. He studies art and directs BC High's adult spiritual formation programs. Formerly a retreat director in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ignatian Spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend-, 8-day, and 30-day Retreats based on The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatian Spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with God.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Dakota Access Pipeline Resources

Many of you may have heard about the protests about the Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172
mile-long underground oil pipeline project being built by a Dallas, Texas
company called Energy Transfer Partners. The route begins in northwest North
Dakota and runs southeast through South Dakota, Iowa, and into southern
Illinois. The project was expected to be completed by year end.

The pipeline’s existence is controversial regarding its
necessity and the negative effect upon the environment. The Meskwaki Indians in
Iowa and the Sioux in the Dakotas have opposed the pipeline.

The Standing Rock Indian Reservation petitioned the U.S.
Army Corp of Engineers for an injunction and protests have been ongoing. Some
confrontations between groups of protestors and law enforcement officials have
recently made the national news.

I am enclosing a Google Docs resource sheet that lists
several informational and advocacy sources.

Perhaps our biggest step is informing ourselves about this
topic and the negative environmental aspects of future pipelines. The president-elect
has promised to bring back the Keystone XL pipeline project that was rejected
last year after intense activism.

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It is also helpful to learn more about the nuances of our
U.S. history with native peoples. We have a history of treaties, broken
promises, national hurts, but equally important is the power of Native Americans’
souls, with hopes and ideals. As one people, one nation, it behooves us to
understand the enormous issues facing one another.

Note: The protestors have placed wish list items on Amazon for anyone interested in contributing to their efforts: http://a.co/27BRc6P